teaching

Finding Balance in a Thirty Year Teaching Journey

I am in the thirtieth year of my high school teaching career. Thirty. Years. The most common response is “How did you do that?” quickly followed by some semblance of, “Good for you.” My reply, depending on my mood, ranges from “Thank you” to “Yup, it has been quite the journey” to “Is it? IsContinue reading “Finding Balance in a Thirty Year Teaching Journey”

What Schools Have Forgotten

Over two millennia ago Socrates emphasized that learning is a form of remembering. While this Socratic rabbit hole can bring us into questions of the nature of reality, I prefer to ground us in the idea of learning, remembering, and forgetting. We will focus on our school systems and, sadly, how they seem to haveContinue reading “What Schools Have Forgotten”

Honoring Stories Big and Small

A new school year has begun and I have found the insight of educationalist Parker J. Palmer echoing within for almost three weeks. I’ve never met Professor Palmer but I suspect, since he is a teacher, he would appreciate the fact his lessons resonate long after his “class” has ended (in this case his bookContinue reading “Honoring Stories Big and Small”

Bruce Springsteen – Master Teacher

Hidden amongst the array of jargon polluting education is the phrase “Master Teacher.” I am told one becomes a “master teacher” upon achieving tenure so, I’m one! Yes! Evidently I’ve been one for a long time. I’m sure such designations matter somewhere in the business or politics of education, but that’s not my world. I’mContinue reading “Bruce Springsteen – Master Teacher”